Would you like to try growing vegetables but aren’t sure where to start? Roisin Markham, an experienced gardener and artist, has put together some great tips and hints for growing vegetables to help you get going.
When you’re starting out on your growing veg journey, the key thing is not to rush things — and make sure you involve the kids too. Kids love planting seeds and watching them grow!
Tips And Hints For Growing Vegetables From An Experienced Gardener
#1. Start Small
Start small. Don’t try to grow too much. This helps ensure early success, which also helps to maintain optimism and interest!
#2. Dig Over Soil
Make sure to dig over your soil before planting. Pull out weeds and add organic matter.
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#3. Water Regularly
Vegetables need regular water to grow and swell. Set up a watering schedule and get the kids involved in helping with that task.
#4. Weed
Not a favourite activity, but keep the weeds away — they will block the growth of your seedlings.
#5. Control Pests
Keep bugs, slugs and caterpillars away. Put down slug traps, such as beer in a saucer. Keep an eye out for caterpillars and bugs and remove these by hand if you spot them.
#6. Go for Small Veg
Buy small vegetable plants and seeds. That way there’s something to look at while the seeds grow. Or grow cress indoors and watch it come to life. Here’s a fun Cress Growing project to try with the kids.
Good Vegetables to Start With
Some things you can grow easily on a window sill — I like to call these “window saucer projects” — such as cress and mustard.
Jar-based sprouts are another great option. Using a jar and a damp paper towel, you can sprout mung beans and alfalfa to make bean sprouts. These are fun for kids to grow and make your salads even healthier and more interesting.
Some things grow well in a flower pot, such as radishes and lettuce.
Other vegetables do well in buckets or bins, such as potatoes, carrots and beetroot.
And finally, why not try a seed packet of a vegetable you wouldn’t normally see in the shops?
You might also enjoy: 10 Easy to Grow Vegetables For First Time Gardeners
Some Useful Gardening Websites
Square Foot Gardening is also well worth looking into, along with the accompanying book, if you’d like a structured way to plan a small growing space.
You might also enjoy: Making Gardening Fun for Kids
Over to you now — do you have any other tips for growing vegetables to share with first-time growers? Share them with us in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What vegetables are easiest for beginners to grow?
Good starting choices include cress and mustard grown on a window sill, jar-sprouted mung beans or alfalfa, radishes and lettuce in a flower pot, and potatoes, carrots or beetroot grown in buckets or bins.
How do I keep pests away from my vegetable garden?
Watch for slugs, caterpillars and bugs and remove them by hand when you spot them. A simple slug trap, such as a saucer of beer, can also help keep slugs away from young seedlings.
How often should I water a vegetable garden?
Vegetables need regular watering to grow and swell properly, so it helps to set up a simple watering schedule — and it’s a great job to get the kids involved in.
Should I involve my kids in growing vegetables?
Yes — kids love planting seeds and watching them grow. Starting small and choosing quick, visible projects like cress or bean sprouts helps keep them interested and involved from the start.
You Might Also Enjoy
- How to Make Compost
- Gardening with Kids: Fun with Cress
- 10 Easy to Grow Vegetables For First Time Gardeners
- Making Gardening Fun for Kids
Save This for Later
Growing vegetables with the kids is a project that unfolds over weeks, not one afternoon — so bookmark this article or save it to your favourite ideas board and come back to it as your seedlings grow.
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